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London Mayor Reiterates Objection To Trump’s UK Trip

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, listens to a speech at the London Government Dinner at the Mansion House in London, Britain, January 12, 2017. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

London Mayor Sadiq Khan repeated his objection to U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom Monday, saying he shouldn’t get red carpet treatment in London.

Trump is scheduled to visit the U.K. in 2018 after originally planning a trip this fall. Khan told CNN that the government shouldn’t “roll out the red carpet” since “many in our country disagree” with his policies.

“State visits are different from a normal visit, and at a time when the president of the USA has policies that many in our country disagree with, I am not sure it is appropriate for our government to roll out the red carpet,” Khan told CNN.

Trump mocked Khan on Twitter in June for saying there is “no reason to be alarmed” after a deadly terror attack in London. Khan‘s office pointed out that he never used those words, which Trump regarded as a “pathetic excuse.”

Khan responded by backing a call from members of parliament to cancel the state visit.

“I don’t think we should roll out the red carpet to the president of the USA in the circumstances where his policies go against everything we stand for,” Khan said in an interview June 5 with Channel 4.

Despite his criticism of Trump, Khan said he’s open to meeting with the president if the opportunity arises.

“If someone has views that I think can be changed, I am ready to play my role,” Khan told CNN. “If you somehow think it is not possible to be a Muslim and a proud westerner, I am happy to disabuse you of that idea, whether you are a reporter for CNN or Donald Trump.”

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